A Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden; could you name a better time for Denver Barkey to make his NHL debut?
The Philadelphia Flyers’ rookie forward is set to make his NHL debut on Saturday vs. the New York Rangers at The World’s Most Famous Arena.
Barkey, 20, will become the second Flyers’ rookie to make his NHL debut this season. Ty Murchison made his earlier this month.
The Flyers’ rookie was recalled by the Flyers on Friday as the team finalized its roster ahead of the NHL Holiday roster freeze. Now, he’ll get a chance to draw into the team’s lineup for the first time on Sunday.
Barkey is currently fourth on the Phantoms in points with 16, and second to Alex Bump (20) in rookie scoring on the team. He is also tied for the second-most goals on the team with 7. Across the AHL, the Flyers’ rookie is tied for 17th for rookie points and tied for 14th in goals.
The 20-year-old forward has often been compared to Travis Konecny. He was given the nickname “TK Jr,” coined by his London Knights teammate Oliver Bonk. His comparison to Konecny goes back to 2023, with Flyers’ AGM Brent Flahr saying, “He’s a little bit like TK.“
Barkey may be small, but he makes up for it with his competitive nature, playmaking, and puck skills. He will be a fun player to watch.
You can watch Barkey make his NHL debut when the Flyers take on the Rangers on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EST, broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia, streamed on ESPN+, or on the radio on 97.5 The Fanatic.
Phantoms head coach John Snowden on Barkey’s Recall
Snowden on Barkey Recall:
“He deserves it. He’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do this year. I’ve said it from the start, he’s a hockey player. He’s going to find his way to be a very good player for a very long time and this is the start for him.”
— Bob Rotruck (@BobRotruck) December 20, 2025
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